Peace now reigns in the port of Felixstowe. After weeks of strikes, workers and the company owning the British port, Hutchinson, have reached a settlement; an 8.5 per cent pay rise and a one-off bonus of £1,000.
According to media reports, 90% of the workers, represented by the Unite union, accepted the new pay offer, thus avoiding a new wave of strikes at the port.
The latest strike action brought the port of call to a standstill for eight days, from 27th September to 5th October, in protest against the employer’s failure to provide a fair pay adjustment in line with the current inflation rate.
The previous offer, a 7% pay rise and an extra £500 one-off bonus, was deemed insufficient and was rejected by 78% of the over 1,500 workers who voted.
Felixstowe’s chief operating officer said they were very pleased to have reached a settlement,” said, the annual pay review provided “welcome certainty and stability” at a difficult time for their employees.
Translation by Giles Foster
